QUARTERLY
From the Corner of
Fall2017 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Marietta Garber: Go out with Joy! p. 3 Discipleship: Building Bridges p. 7 OTRCC: Leadership Rising p. 13
And Much More!
Community Bride Events p. XX Serving Opportunities p. XX Serving Highlight p.XX
– 2017 2018 October 29, 2017
4:00pm
Jean-Baptiste Robin & Romain Leleu Composer & Organist
French trumpeter
For more information visit www.hydeparkchurch.org!
September 24th Join us after Sunday worship to discover the many ministry servant opportunities available for you to share your gifts and talents. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your God in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Letter from
the Communications team
Table of CONTENTS Marietta Garber: Go out with Joy!
3
SERVE: Fall Opportunities
5
Discipleship: Building Bridges
7
Ministry Highlights
10
Be Still: The Sacred Pause
12
OTRCC: Leadership Rising
13
Life Events
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Dear Reader, Welcome to the inaugural issue of our quarterly magazine, From the Corner of Grace. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. After the long summer in which we may have taken a break from classes and gone on family vacations, we are geared up and ready to launch our Fall programs and activities. The choirs began singing at worship in September and adult fall classes have begun. Our next community welcome event will be Blessing of the Animals on Oct 8. Bring your furry friends to participate in a fun and memorable event. Also inside is an interview with Marietta Garber, our parish visitor, who retired at the end of August. We will miss her but we are happy for her as she moves on to a different phase of life. Please peruse our pages inside our magazine and let us know if you have any suggestions or comments. We would love to hear from you! Thank you,
Shari Rust and Lisa Foley
Marietta Garber:
GO OUT WITH JOY! Marietta Garber is retiring this year after 30 years as the Parish Visitor. She has touched us all with her wisdom, grace, prayer, comfort, and joy. To say Marietta will be missed is an understatement. As the daughter of a Methodist Pastor, Marietta’s life has been filled with Christian love, leadership, and ministry. She credits both of her parents for providing a loving, happy environment for her and her twin sister. Her father taught her to have a great love for the Scriptures and to memorize passages that spoke to her. Marietta explained, “Many of those wonderful scriptures we learned as children are now just in our fibers and are close in my heart.” She believes, “If there is any one trait that Christians should promote and try to remember, if we really believe in the Gospel message, if we are really determined to align ourselves with the teachings of Christ and the story of salvation – we should be consistently joyful.”
For ye shall go out with joy…. And it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 55:12-13
As a modest woman, she hopes that “others will not remember her as someone who talks too much…” But we remember her as a loving soul whose words have comforted us in sickness, loneliness and in times of anxiety. Marietta wants to be remembered simply “as someone who cared.” She has been so much more than that to those whose lives she has touched. Her voice advised and inspired us to lead a life devoted to Christian life and community. We have been truly blessed by her dedication to HPCUMC. We are only consoled by the fact that she will have more time to devote to her love of reading and volunteering; and that we will see her as a part of the Senior Adult ministry and at church on Sundays.
Q. What’s something most people don’t know about you? M. I love people and interacting with others, but I then love solitude, quiet pondering and meditation especially in the early morning hours–the “golden hours” of the day! I love this imagery– “Each morning lean thine arms on the windowsill of Heaven and gaze upon thy Lord – then turn strong to meet thy day.” Q. What did you find most fulfilling about your role at HPCUMC? M. Being able to talk with so many people and to hear their stories; One on one contacts with members and families, hospital calls, and praying with the families. Q. Who has had the greatest impact on your life? M. My Dad – he and I were especially close as I was growing up, and my sister and my Mom were. We all loved each other, but it was obvious that he and I had more in common; he was 55 when we were born, our Mom was 33 – we always had older parents than our peers, and that was never a problem for any of us. Q. What do you regret not fully doing, being, or having in your life? M. Sometimes I regret that I was unable to have children; other times not so much! I have never been jealous of my friends who have children, but it is accurate to say that, at times, I feel wistful. Q. What are you most grateful for? M. I am so thankful for being born into a Christian home, for never doubting that our parents cherished us. Q. What’s the best part of growing older?
Here are a few fun facts we discovered about Marietta:
M. Thankfulness and survival and time. The best part is the privilege of growing older; sadly, so many people never get to. Having more time to read, to do nothing part of the time, but also being able to participate in meaningful volunteer work.
Q. What is your education and background?
Q. What is your favorite quote? Why?
M. I grew up in Kentucky in a Methodist parsonage with parents and a twin sister Ruth, who is older by 30 minutes. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and close to twenty hours of post/graduate work in English Literature–I never finished my master’s since, at the time, I became much more interested in getting a Mrs. degree!
M. From Amy Carmichael, a little Irish girl born in Belfast late in the 19th century: “Oh stay nearby, most Patient Love, till by Thy Grace in this poor silver, Thy Face shines forth in clearness and serenity.” Perhaps it is more a prayer than a quote, but it serves to center me.
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-St. Francis of Assisi
1345 Grace Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45208 • (513) 871-1345 www.hydeparkchurch.org
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve‌ Mark 10:45
SERVE. 5
Would you like to be more involved? Do you feel a calling to help others? Do you have a God given talent that will benefit your neighbor? Lend a helping hand, get more by giving more, you are the hands and feet of Christ. Listed are some of the many opportunities available at HPCUMC to give back to the community and get involved with your church family:
For more information or to get involved in the areas listed below contact Sarah Putman at sputman@hpcumc.org or (513) 979-8162. ROTHENBERG MENTOR
Partner with a student to bring tutoring and mentoring to the child’s life. Training is completed through Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC). Mentors meet with their students once a week for tutoring. Time spent outside of school is at the discretion of the mentor. 2020 BIBLE STUDY LEADER (JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER)
Once a month, on Tuesday or Wednesday evening, Bible Study Leaders will go to the Juvenile Detention Center and offer a time of Bible study. Months alternate between boys and girl. Training and background checks required. PROJECT 5000 BAG ASSEMBLER
Part of our partnership with The Center for Respite Care is a monthly donation of Project 5000 bags for them to distribute to their clients who have moved into independent housing. Using donations from our Lenten Project 5000 drive, we purchase the food needed to fill 15-24 bags. The Bag assembler will make sure that the proper food gets placed into each bag prior to delivery to Respite. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Once a month commitment, position can rotate through multiple persons.
Serving Opportunities List PROJECT 5000 BAG DELIVERER
Once the Project 5000 bags have been assembled for Respite, the bag deliverer will come to the church, pick the Project 5000 bags, drive them to the Center for Respite Care, and help the staff there unload them. Volunteer must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs. This will be about once a month, though the position can rotate through multiple persons. MADISONVILLE EDUCATION & ASSISTANCE CENTER DINNER SERVER
Madisonville Education & Assistance Center offers many services to those in need around our community. Once a month, on the fourth Monday, a team from HPCUMC takes and serves dinner to the clients of MEAC.
To get involved in the areas listed below contact Diane Weaver at diweaver@hpcumc.org or (513) 979-8190 SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY
Sunday Drivers to bring area members to worship and return home (one Sunday per month) FIRST FRIDAY NITERS
This group has dinner and a program 8 times a year. We need help with: - Dining Room prep and table setting the Thursday prior to the event - Help bring food from kitchen to serving areas - Help clear the tables between the meal and the program
THANKSGIVING BASKET LEAD TEAM
Ensure that all of the food for assembly arrives at the church on time, work out the logistics for the day of assembly/delivery making sure it is ready when volunteers arrive. THANKSGIVING BASKET ASSEMBLER
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, help assembly of over 500 Thanksgiving baskets to be delivered to agencies and families in the area. Assembly takes place from 10 a.m. until all boxes are completed. THANKSGIVING BASKET DELIVERER
Take assembled baskets to the homes of families that have signed up for individual baskets. Both addresses and maps are provided.
To get involved in the areas listed below contact Lisa Foley at lfoley@hpcumc.org or (513) 979-8174. BULK MAILINGS
Serve on a team that prepares large bulk mailings. Labeling and stuffing envelopes for large mailings. Once or twice per month Sept–May. MULTIMEDIA HELP
Do you have a gift for videography? The Communications Team is in need of individuals who have skills in creating and editing videos.
DISCIPLESHIP:
BUILDING
Bridges connect things. Just as the famous John A. Roebling Bridge connects Ohio with Kentucky, churches that build bridges with their neighbors understand their mission. Christ calls us to welcome and love all people, embracing our neighbors near and far. Welcoming people who live near us, right here in our neighborhood, reflects the tradition of this congregation. On the wall outside the sanctuary, built in 1927, these words are posted: “Our Invitation: To all who mourn and need comfort– To all who are tired and need rest – To all who are friendless and want friendship – To all who are lonely and want companionship – To all who are homeless and want sheltering love – To all who pray, and to all who do not, but ought –To all who sin and need a Saviour and to who-so-ever-will, this church opens wide its doors, and in the name of Jesus, our Lord, bids, WELCOME!” What is a Community Welcome Event? Pastor Cathy Johns defines it: “an experience in which the community is invited to come and experience warm, authentic hospitality as church members ‘build a bridge’ to people in our neighborhood, giving ourselves away in Christian love.” This year’s Community Welcome Events included an Easter Egg Hunt in April facilitated by Dana Calhoun, the Director of Children and Family Ministry and
Charlotte Kuhlman, her assistant, and servant volunteers. This event was a true success with over 200 people in attendance! The free pancake breakfast and Easter Egg hunts in the courtyard spread the joy of Christ’s love to children and families from our community and our church. Those who attended were divided equally in three parts: members of the church, pre-school families, and community members. As final preparations were made, joy and excitement filled the air. Servant volunteers hid the eggs and decorated the church, inside and out. When guests arrived, they received a warm welcome and were given a packet which included a bag for hunting eggs and an invitation to Holy Week and Easter Worship services. A free pancake breakfast was served downstairs. As the age-appropriate hunts began the children, preschool through elementary, all took turns enjoying both the scavenger hunts and the hunt for the Graeters Easter Eggs. Families shared that they felt welcome. A follow up was sent to families who provided contact information; many returned with their children to Vacation Bible School in June. Dana Calhoun reflected on the event stating, “It was a personal highlight in my ministry. I am already looking forward to next year’s Easter Egg Hunt!” Dana remembers feeling “an overwhelming amount of joy as I watched members of our church introduce themselves to new families and welcome them to the event. The Holy Spirit was abundant that morning.”
BRIDGES
Our first community welcome event of 2017, the Easter egg hunt in our festive courtyard.
Summer Jam, Thursday, August 24th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Over 200 people gathered, on the church lawn to enjoy a fun, relaxing evening. Onsite food trucks such as P&P Wood-fired Pizza and Streetpops provided dinner options while the praise band, led by Matthew Covert, performed a free concert. Music included favorites from popular bands such as U2 and the Doobie Brothers, as well as contemporary Christian praise music. Overall the spirit of fellowship was in the air as church members, volunteers, and neighbors joined together in Christian community. It is our hope that the congregation continues to embrace these events, taking part by joining in the celebrations, inviting friends and neighbors to join in, and by engaging as servant volunteers. This year we have two exciting opportunities to welcome our community:
Matthew Covert leading our worship band at Summer Jam on the Lawn
Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 8, 4:00 p.m. St Francis of Assisi taught that God loves and cares for the world and all creatures that dwell in it. We will offer a unique worship experience that celebrates all of God’s creatures. You are invited to bring to this service your four-footed friends and other companions who live with you. A blessing will be said over each member of God’s creation. In case of rain, the service will be moved inside to the refectory.
October 8th, 4:00pm
Christmas Breakfast Bash, Saturday, December 9 Families are invited to step back from the hustle and bustle of this busy season, join us as guests of the church, and enjoy a free pancake breakfast. Games and activities will contribute to the morning of family fun. Kids young and old will enjoy this time together as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, the Christ-Child. There are three ways that you can support a Community Welcome Event. First, invite a friend or neighbor to join you. More than 90% of people connect with a congregation because a friend invited them. The second is to step forward as a servant volunteer. Welcoming our neighbors is important ministry; your assistance is deeply appreciated. And finally, attend Community Welcome Events and engage with the community. We look forward to claiming our identity in the years to come as Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, a church that builds bridges with our neighbors as we give ourselves away in Christian love.
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DISCIPLESHIP: BUILDING BRIDGES
Student Ministry This is our 50th year! We are the oldest and largest private Christian preschool in Hyde Park. Since becoming a part of HPCUMC ministry we’ve seen a steady increase in our enrollment. This fall we welcome 200+ children ages 2 ½ to 5 years old. With growth in students this year, we’ve welcomed eight new staff members. Summer Fun Camp was a great success with 63 children in attendance, an increase over the 40 children who attended last year. Thank you for your continued support for our ministry. For more information about our Preschool, visit www. hydeparkschool.org or contact Julie Vail at jvail@hpcumc.org.
Children and Family Ministry We are very excited to announce our new “252 Kids” Sunday School curriculum, which is based on Luke 2:52. This new focus on families and church working together is designed to provoke discovery, and invite kids into a better understanding of how to grow in relationship with Jesus. It teaches three basic and powerful truths modeled by Jesus: 1) I need to make the wise choice, 2) I can trust God no matter what, 3) I should treat others the way I want to be treated. September 29-30 -our 5th and 6th graders will
We are celebrating another awesome year in youth ministry! In May, we confirmed 10 students and welcomed them as new members of HPCUMC. We also bid farewell to 13 seniors as they embark on brand-new journeys at their respective colleges. This summer we have had a variety of activities throughout our city! In July, we attended a Reds Game and completed a Cincinnati scavenger hunt together. We also had a lockin night with separate accommodations for boys and girls. The next day the two groups joined together in worship at the 9:30 a.m. service. In August, we experienced the joy of the great outdoors on a camping trip that included canoeing! There have been exciting opportunities to serve this summer! In June, we had nearly 30 youth serve in the Children and Family Ministry’s Vacation Bible School, in which they helped teach children about God’s love. We also had a group of 9 students travel to Braxton County, West Virginia for a week long mission trip. We have MANY opportunities to join in this fall. Mark your calendars for the following dates in youth ministry: September 10th: Rally Day! Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Youth Group at 5:30 p.m. September 17th: Messy Game Night at 5:30 p.m.! October 13th-15th: Fall Retreat!
Young Adult Ministry
participate in the city-wide, Tween WEiRD Retreat, “Inside Out,” held at Camp Kern. For more information, visit www.weirdretreats.com.
Vacation Bible School was a tremendous success, where over 100 volunteers and 200 children learned that we are created by God and built for a purpose! The theme, “Maker Fun Factory” added great excitement to the June event. We celebrate all who made this year’s event successful! In August, 20 families attended Family Camp at The Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center in Ravenna, Kentucky. Families enjoyed Bible study, camp fires, hiking, swimming, fishing, zip-lining, games, a variety of sports and lots and lots of fellowship. Fun was had by all!
Our Young Adult Ministry has grown steadily over the past year. Half a dozen of the young adults serve our youth ministry program as youth counselors, a weekly volunteer opportunity that allows them to actively encourage and mentor the students here at HPCUMC. Outside of volunteering, the Young Adult small group read several books over the course of the year and participated in the church wide Lenten bible study. They also had monthly social gatherings at hot spots throughout OTR, Hyde Park, and Oakley. We look forward to the next year in the life of Hyde Park Community! If you are interested in learning more about young adult ministry, feel free to get in touch with Victoria Kuhlman at vkuhlman@hpcumc.org.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Community & Global Ministry
Adult Ministry
The months of May through August are a busy season for Community Ministry! Summer Impact 2017 welcomed 102 participants and 3 interns to spend their time meeting the various needs of our ministry partners around the city. “Faith in Action” was the theme of the summer and focusing on how an active faith can range from personal self-examination, surrender, confession and laying down the burdens that distract us from living our fullest life in Christ. On Tuesdays, the youth and interns participated in a photo Scavenger Hunt. The “subjects” they were looking for were characteristics, experiences, or qualities that may be part of a person’s life story. They were challenged to initiate conversation with people in and around the city who were out and about on Tuesday night. During the day, we got to illustrate faith in action as we served alongside our ministry partners. We worked with –
Our Enneagram retreats were a big celebration for us this year with over 75 people in attendance! All came to a deeper self-understanding, experienced transformation and wholeness. Taking time for a retreat is always a gift of grace from God.
· New Life Furniture to prepare and deliver furniture to families newly in permanent residence. · Wesley Chapel Mission Center to spend time with children and play with them during their summer day camp. · The Center for Respite Care to provide a meal and fellowship with the residents currently living there. · The Jubilee Project to clean out the basement of a house to be turned into a livable space, prepare for their urban farm, clear a lot so that they can begin their next adventure there, work in their newly opened thrift store to prepare for its opening on Saturdays. · Stepping Stones to partner with a camper for the day and spend time with them in a “buddy system” as they enjoyed their day at camp. · The Wesley Foundation in Cincinnati preparing a vegetation box in the back of their parking lot space. As we cherish all the memories of Summer Impact 2017 we are already gearing up for Summer Impact 2018 and the partnerships, opportunities, and adventures we will experience as the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts and minds of everyone involved. Community Ministries is looking forward to our fall programming as we relaunch a school year with Rothenberg Preparatory Academy mentoring and tutoring the students. Anyone who is interested in mentoring with a Rothenberg student (tutoring happens for an hour during the school day) is invited to contact Sarah Putman for more information at sputman@hpcumc.org
Come and be part of the energy and excitement by attending a fall faith formation class! It’s an exciting time, because so many are seeking to grow in their faith journey and spiritual formation. We pray for many new people to join us on this journey of discovering new insights, experiencing transformation, developing significant friendships, and finding a place of belonging and caring connectedness. Make sure to pickup a discipleship booklet from the church office or the Welcome center for more information on current opportunities available.
Senior Adult Ministry At the end of August we celebrated the 30-year ministry of Marietta Garber as our Parish Visitor. She spoke at all three services and attended a celebratory luncheon in the Refectory. Senior Pastors, who worked with her in the past, returned to share their loving memories of her. The following Sunday cake was served in the Welcome Center to give thanks to Marietta for her service to the senior adults of our church. The 2017/2018 SAM programming begins Sept. 8th with First Friday Niters! First Friday Niters: 9/8 Discussion with speaker, Tara Robinson. 10/6 Talk about John A. Roebling and His Suspension Bridge on the Ohio River. 11/ 3 Rev. Fred Shaw will share about the American Indian. Thursday Edition programs: 9/14 Program about Music Hall, “The Evolution of an Icon.” 9/28 Rev. Cathy Johns will present “United Methodism 101”. 10/12 Field trip to tour the School of Creative and Performing Arts and lunch 10/26 Program about “Wreaths Across America” 11/9 Field trip to New Life Furniture in Blue Ash 11/26 Thanksgiving Worship You don’t want to miss these exciting opportunities over the next few months!
For more information, please contact Diane Weaver, Coordinator of Senior Adult Ministry at 979-8190 or diweaver@hpcumc.org.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Be Still:
The Sacred Pause If you have ever attended the 8 o’clock service on Sunday morning when I am liturgist, you know that I frequently use Psalm 46: 10 (“Be still and know that I am God.”) as part of the centering time before the Prayer of the People. I personally have found that slowing down, taking a deep breath, and being still even if it is only for a moment is the best way to open myself to the mystery all around me, that mystery we know as God. This slowing down and pausing, what I call the sacred pause, has become a spiritual practice for me. I might pause when I see something that brings a smile to my face and be reminded of God’s presence and God’s delight in me and in all of God’s creation. Or, I might pause when I find myself getting frustrated or angry and be present in the moment where God is and where all is well. This helps me to recalibrate by getting out of my ego (at least somewhat!) and by returning to the Divine Flow.
The sacred pause is a contemplative practice and contemplative practices are a part of Christian spiritual formation. Spiritual formation, as defined by the late Dr. M. Robert Mulholland, New Testament Professor at Asbury Seminary, is “the process of becoming conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” (1) This process is formational. We are becoming more and more like Christ. It is about experiencing the Divine and not simply having knowledge about the scriptures or Biblical history or church dogma, etc. This experience may come to us in numerous ways, through Bible study, Christian book study, or social outreach projects, for example. It may come through music, art, or nature. It may come through other people in terms of how they live their lives. It may come through prayer, contemplation, or silence. God is constantly reaching out to us and wants us to experience and to know God intimately. I like to think of these ways as gateways to experiencing the Divine, and in experiencing the Divine, we become more like Christ. Contemplation is one such gateway. Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., a prominent 20th century Catholic theologian, defines contemplation as “a long loving look at the real.” (2) “The real” is all of creation which is sacred and an expression of the Divine. When we take a “look at the real” it is a long look, an unhurried look. And it is more than just seeing with our eyes. It is using all our senses when appropriate. We observe without analyzing, judging, describing, or defining. We allow “the real” to captivate us, calling forth oneness, compassion, and love, and in so doing we catch a glimpse of God (the Real) in all that is. Through contemplation we are able to see the sacred in all things and are able to know our oneness with God and our interconnectedness with all of creation. This summer I had the opportunity to go on a retreat in North Carolina. The retreat center was on a small island with the
Written by Christine McHenry Christine has been a member of HPCUMC for over 35 years. She is a retired pediatrician with a masters degree in theology from United Theological Seminary. She is a trained spiritual director and supervisor, a trained labyrinth facilitator, and a retreat leader.
sound on one side and the ocean on the other. As I came to this retreat I was feeling particularly broken and marginalized. During my stay I had time to walk the beach and to take in the beauty and power of God’s creation. I had time to fellowship with other spiritual directors and to reflect on my brokenness. As we gathered our last morning to worship together, we were asked to choose a shell or other object from the alter (we had all been contributing to the alter during the week) and to spend the next 10 minutes taking “a long loving look at the real.” I was immediately attracted to a broken scollop shell and was overcome with emotion. I knew God had something to say to me about my brokenness. I spent my time looking at this shell and feeling its ridges. This shell was broken just like I was broken, not in a clean straight line but a jagged irregular line. It had vertical ridges, peeks and valleys, reminding me of the peeks and valleys in my life. And it was a deep red color suggesting the blood of Christ and how Christ knew what it was like to be broken and marginalized. That color was part of the peaks and part of the valleys and, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was not alone in my brokenness. God understood and was there with me and will always be with me on the peaks and in the valleys of life. I was filled with gratitude for this reminder that came through an ordinary (or not so ordinary!) broken sea shell. Over the next several weeks, I would encourage you to take “a long loving look at the real.” 1. Choose an object to contemplate. It may be a leaf or a flower. It may be a sunrise or a sunset. It may be a sea shell or a rock. Remember that all of creation is sacred and a gateway to experiencing and knowing God. 2. Take a few moments to quiet your mind by taking several deep breaths. As you inhale, notice the air flowing through your nostrils to the back of your throat and into your chest. You may notice your chest rising and your belly expanding. As you exhale, notice the air leaving the lungs to the back of your throat and out your nostrils. Noticing our breath helps us to quiet our minds and to be present in the moment. 3. Pray for an open mind and a receptive heart as you take “a long loving look” at your object. 4. Observe the object in an unhurried fashion using all your senses when appropriate. Do not try to analyze it or judge it. Allow God to speak to you through “the real.” 5. End your time with a prayer of thanksgiving for whatever has been revealed to you.
Blessings to you on your journey as you take “a long loving look at the real.”
2 References: (1) Mulholland, M. Robert, The Academy for Spiritual Formation #27, Bon Secours Spirituality Center, January, 2008. (2) Burghardt, Walter J., Contemplation: A Long Loving Look at the Real, Church, Winter, 1989.
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: LEADERSHIP RISING
S
o much of the ministry within our OverThe-Rhine Community Church has been marked by change. A new pastor, a new name, a new neighborhood breakfast. There has been a long and exciting road leading up to where we are now. And while change and revitalization is a sign of God working within a community, OTRCC is now beginning to transition into the next season of building on the foundations we have been laying over the past two years. This shift is taking particular shape in the dedicated and invested leaders that God is lifting up out of our community and equipping to take OTR Community Church to a deeper level in fulfilling our call to be a church for Over-the-Rhine and greater Cincinnati. In February we began our first Huddle. Our Huddle is a group of nine individuals who meet every two weeks for the purpose of discerning how God is speaking into our lives in order to step deeper into the likeness of Jesus. The goal of Huddle is to develop leaders within the church community who will go on to begin new ministries and missional communities out of our church body. Since we began, each member of Huddle has shown a growing commitment to OTRCC as well as an ability to discern how God is calling them to serve in a tangible way. We are very excited to see the ministries that are sure to be springing out of this group of leaders. Additionally, on July 16 we launched the second round of our church catechism. Catechism is a four part process for people interested in joining the church or learning more about the community. Each part consists of 3 hours after worship, include eating a meal together. While we’re eating, we dive into the curriculum around the history of both geophysical and ecclesiological;
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power dynamics around class, economics and race, and ways in which we are seeking to build a genuine and meaningful community within these realities. Round 1 was held in October-December of 2016, and we had nine participants. At this time we have 20 individuals signed up for Round 2! It is truly encouraging to see not only the number of people within the church community growing, but also the level of dedication and excitement around investing in this church body in truly meaningful ways. God is moving within OTRCC. And this movement has only been possible through the connection between OTRCC and HPCUMC. Our identity as one church in two locations can often be confusing to people familiar with the two neighborhoods, but the success and growth we are seeing in OTR is a clear sign that we as one church are participating in the work of the Spirit throughout our city of Cincinnati. What a blessing it is to be in this work together!
Baptisms 2/12/17 Edmund McAbee Connelly
New Members
Joined Febuary 26, 2017
Ava Annaliese Balster
2/19/17 Averie Belle Newlin
Moritz Matthew and Barbara Lois Ziegler
4/23/17 Emerson Abigail Daly
Walter Morgan and Diana Lynn Wallace
Landon Conor Daly
Benjamin Morgan Allen
Remington Patrick Whitson
Lauren Christine Fink
4/30/17 Nathan Lewis Stahlman 5/14/17 William Jacob Bruner
Joined May 21, 2017
6/11/17 Joshua John Allen
Allen and Anne Zaring
6/18/17 Arlo McCoy Redmond
Jennifer Keelor
7/2/17 Ellis Camden Aldridge
B. Morgan Pierce
7/16/17 Graham Theodore Parchman
Lauren Bowler
Laura B. Tuzun
Sylvie Lenore Nosse
Confirmation May 14, 2017
Weddings
Elliott Abbott
Katherine Russell Hurst
March 4, 2017 Amanda Herman & Paul Snyder
William Jacob Bruner
Giovanni Minghetti
April 8 ,2017
Mary Allison Frye
Zachary Neilan Potter
April 22, 2017 Roberta Peebles & Donald Hawley
William Mayfield Guy
Sara Lewis Taylor
May 12, 2017
Alexandra Lawson & Michael O’Toole
Andrew Greybill Hurst
Benjamin David Thomas
June 3, 2017
Hilary Burkhard & Robert Menchen
June 3, 2017
Gretchen Rhinehimer & Ralph Bradburn
Abigail Moore & Christopher Hines
August 3, 2017 Lauren Fink & Ben Allen
DEaths 1/07/2017 Mrs. Jean T. Nagle
5/28/2017 Mrs. Lou Ann (Lou Ann) McDaniel
3/15/2017 Rev. Lowell G. McCoy
5/09/2017 Mrs. Lynn W. Roy
3/20/2017 Mrs. Leoti A. (Lee) Jones
6/23/2017 Mr. Douglas L. (Doug) Weiss
4/01/2017 Mr. Dorsey F. Asbury
6/24/2017 Mr. Tom Stanley Gabrielsen
5/17/2017 Mr. Joseph Conrad Hess
7/10/2017 Mrs. Mary Jane (Mary Jane) Schmuelling
5/30/2017 Mr. John C. (Jack)
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Save the Date! December 9th
Christmas Breakfast Bash! GIVE US FEEDBACK
THANK YOU
FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ISSUE
communication@hpcumc.org
Senior Pastors Cathy & Doug Johns Rev. Ian Strickland Christine McHenry HPCUMC Staff
What did you think of our first issue? We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on what you are interested in seeing in this new quarterly magazine.
1345 Grace Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45208 (513) 871-1345 www.hydeparkchurch.org
1310 Race St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 871-1345 www.otrcc.org
Co-Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Cathy Johns
Co-Senior Pastor
Rev. Doug Johns
Pastor of Discipleship
Rev. Dave Weaver
Pastor of Over-The-Rhine Community Church
Rev. Ian Strickland
HPCUMC Office Hours 9:00am - 5:00pm Sunday Worship 8:00am, 9:30am, & 11:00am
OTRCC Sunday Community Breakfast 9:15am Sunday Worship 10:30am